Information And Services To Spay And Neuter Cats
The compassionate veterinary medical team at Premier Veterinary Care have extensive experience having successfully performed spay and neuter procedures on countless male and female cats of all breeds and ages. We are also dedicated to help educate cat owners throughout the greater Viera, FL area about spay and neuter procedures. This information includes when to spay or neuter a cat, what to expect during and after surgery, and why cat spay and cat neuter is essential to helping control the pet population problem in the state of Florida, as well as promoting happy and healthy cats. We have subsequently compiled some of the most frequently asked questions here to help you learn more about this important service.
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What Is Cat Neutering?
Cat neuter refers to the castration, or the removal of the testicles of a male cat so that he cannot impregnate a female cat. Only a veterinary surgeon can properly and safely perform cat neuter surgery.
Cat neuter surgery includes the following procedures:
- Your veterinarian will perform a through pre-anesthetic examination and assessment
- Your veterinarian will use general anesthesia or deep sedation for the procedure to avoid any discomfort felt by the cat
- The assigned veterinary technician and doctor monitor his breathing and heart rate oxygen levels, blood pressure, plane of anesthesia, and overall health during the anesthetic procedure
- The surgeon makes a small incision in the front of the scrotum
- Each testicle is removed and the blood supply and vas deferens (spermatic cord) are tied off
- The veterinarian closes the incision with surgical glue or sutures
Your doctor and assigned veterinary technician will provide postoperative instructions for you to follow. Although cat neuter could result in some discomfort right after surgery, your veterinarian will take various measures for pain relief. Additional steps taken at home will facilitate a safe and comfortable recovery including:
- Providing your cat with a quiet place to recover indoors and away from other animals
- Keeping your cat indoors and attempt to limit running and jumping
- Preventing your cat from licking the incision site, which may cause infection, by monitoring your cat and utilizing an elizabethan collar if licking can not be prevented otherwise
- Checking the incision site daily to confirm proper healing
- Looking for any redness, swelling or discharge at the surgery site, or if the incision is open, contacting your veterinarian. Also, calling your veterinarian if your cat is lethargic, has a decreased appetite, is vomiting, and has diarrhea, or if you have any other concerns following surgery
What Is Spaying A Cat?
Spay refers to the ovariohysterectomy, or the removal of portions of the reproductive system of a female cat so she cannot get pregnant and give birth to kittens. Cat spay also significantly prevents mammary cancer, one of the most common cancers in female cats.
Cat spay is a surgical procedure that a veterinary surgeon can properly and safely perform. Spaying a cat is a routine surgical procedure that carries a minimal risk for serious medical complications when performed by an experienced veterinary medical team following all of the of the most current surgical and anesthesia protocols.
Spaying a cat includes the following procedures:
- Your veterinarian will utilize general anesthesia to avoid any discomfort during the procedure
- Your assigned technician and doctor monitor your cat’s breathing and heart rate oxygen levels, blood pressure, plane of anesthesia, and overall health during the anesthetic procedure
- The surgeon makes a small incision in your cat’s abdomen and removes the ovaries and other portions of the uterus
- Your veterinarian closes the incision with sutures
Your assigned veterinarian and veterinary technician will provide post-operative instructions for you to follow. Although spaying a cat could result in some discomfort right after surgery, your veterinarian will take various measures for pain relief. The steps to ensuring your cat has the most comfortable and safe recovery possible from spaying surgery are identical to the recovery recommendations provided above for neutering.
If you are concerned about spaying your cat, we urge you to ask the veterinarian at your next visit for help making an informed and responsible decision.
Why Should You Spay Or Neuter Your Cat?
There are many valid reasons to spay or neuter your cat. According to AmericanHumane.org. Approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized at shelters annually because there just are not enough willing and able adopters for them. Spay and neuter procedures ensure that you are not adding to this number, and that no offspring your cat has ends up a fatal statistic.
To support this unpleasant reality, consider the fact that, according to Feral Cat Project, a non-spayed female cat can be responsible for producing up to 100 other cats throughout her lifetime, including the litters of kittens her un-spayed kittens will eventually go on to have. This incredible number can be prevented though, simply by caring enough to spay or neuter your cat.
Spay and neuter also contribute to happier and healthier cats, preventing marking behavior and aggression in males, and preventing day estrus (heat) cycle intact females experience every 60 days.
When Should You Neuter A Cat?
We recommend spaying and neutering between 4-6 months of age. In some cases, male cats can become sexually mature before 6 months of age, which means waiting to neuter a cat can cause accidental pregnancy and possible onset of marking behavior. Also, kittens tend to be more resilient to minor surgical procedures than adult cats. Therefore, undertaking cat neuter surgery sooner rather than later helps ensure minimized risk and quicker recovery time. If you are not sure when to neuter a cat, please consult the veterinarian at your next visit.
Make Your Appointment To Spay Or Neuter Your Cat Today
Scheduling an appointment with our veterinary team for spay and neuter procedures is as easy as picking up the phone, or sending us an email. Our experienced spay and neuter staff is here to help answer any questions or quell any concerns you might have, as well as to help schedule a surgical appointment for your feline friend.